Social media affects the doctor-patient relationship

A look at the positive impact of social media on the healthcare industry.

Interesting article in Forbes looks at the positive impact of social media on the healthcare industry.

It’s important to know this and make your practice website a respected destination to capture as much of this social linking as possible. Have health content on your practice site that patients can share with their friends and family. Web users prefer to consume and share videos, such as ViewMedica’s On-Demand content, but even simple text and images would help you.

What patients learn in social media, makes them better prepared to discuss their issues with their doctor. And after a patient gets their treatment plan, socials can help them stay in compliance through social media support groups.

There is a downside, however. Physicians do find themselves having to sort and verify the health information patients bring with them to the exam room. So it’s good to remind patients that what they learn online can’t replace the experience and expertise of their doctor.